Thursday, June 18, 2015

Did you ever watch Home Improvement?
I used to really enjoy that sit-com from the 90's.
Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor was always getting into trouble of some kind...
...trying to master projects that seemed to be way over his head!
I hope that will not be the case with us.

It looks as though we are finally about to take the plunge!
This house was built in 1985 and although we have done some needed updates,
over the years there were many things that just got put off...for one reason or another.
Oh yeah...now I remember one reason........money!

So there will be some exterior and interior repairs/updates.
The list seems long but some of the items are really quite minor.

We have re-hired a talented fellow that did some work for us about five years ago.

He does it all...pretty much everything...and he does it all well.
The best part is, he's cheap!
And I use that term in the kindest way :)
Yes, will be seeing a lot of Kerby in the days to come.

To say I'm excited would be an understatement!
So...am I ready for my house to be in complete disarray for the next few months?Isn't it always in some state of disarray?Can't I just go on a long vacation and it will all be done?
SURE...BRING IT ON!!

Just for fun, I thought I'd throw these in.

A while back, I created these fun little "planets" of our neck of the woods.
I used a free program called Gimp to make them.
The one above is the front view...

...and this is from the back.
Aren't they fun?
There are times when these images sort of represent my life...
...topsy-turvy...LOL!

And on another subject altogether, My Favorite Thingsis two years old today!
Look...I even made a digital cake for the occasion!(with a little help from Paint and Picmonkey)

Yes, on June 18, 2013, I hit the publish button for the first time on this little blog.
Sometimes it seems like I've been blogging much longer...
...and other times I still feel like such a newbie.
In fact, I thought it was my third year.
I actually had to go back and check my dashboard!

In all sincerity, I must tell you all how much I appreciate you.
Everyone of you adds a special blessing to my life.
I feel as though I know many of you well.
How can that be so when we've never met face to face?
We are sort of kindred spirits in way, aren't we?
I looked it up so I was sure I knew what I was talking about:

kin·dred spir·it

noun

plural noun: kindred spiritsA person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one's own.
~
Have a good one!

Monday, June 8, 2015

"Cut thistles in May, they'll grow in a day; cut them in June, that is too soon;cut them in July, then they will die."~Mother Goose rhyme

I love milk thistles....I just can't help myself.
I'm absolutely struck by the beautiful prickliness of them!
And it seems to be peak season for them here in my neck of the woods.
Is there something wrong with me...
...that something so...ordinary...so random would delight me so??

I do realize that everyone may not share my views.

I am not a farmer and I don't know if farmers like them much.
I understand there are many health benefits and many parts of them are edible,
although I also read that they can be somewhat toxic to cattle and sheep.

It's amazing what you learn about something that you basically knew nothing about...

...just because you think it's beautiful and do a little research.
I didn't realize that milk thistle is in the sunflower family either...interesting...

So here are basics....straight from Google:

Milk thistle, or Silybum marianum, is a member of the Asteraceae (Daisy Family), (hmm...it seems the daisy and the sunflower must be related too!) and is also known by several other names, including Blessed Milk thistle,
Spotted thistle, St. Mary's thistle, Marian thistle, Holy thistle and Variegated thistle.
It should not be confused with Blessed thistle, Cnicus benedictus.

“He that has a good harvest must be content with a few thistles”
~Spanish Proverb
~
Hmmm...there's a lot of truth there, I'd say...
...sometimes I feel like I got more thistles than produce!
But...God is GOOD...ALL the time!

HELLO, FRIENDS!

About Me

I am a transplanted southern girl, raised in Ohio, now living in Central NC. I am the baby out of eight children and being a part of a large, crazy family has been the biggest blessing of my life. I have been married to Jim for 40 years and we have two adult sons, three grandsons, one grand daughter. And last but not least, we have two ornery doxies, Oscar and recently adopted Tasha. I love the Lord Jesus and do my best to live for Him, although at times, I fail miserably...His grace amazes me. I love capturing the beauty of the Creator through the lens of my camera and I pray that my humble little blog is an encouragement to all who visit!
Blessings, Debby